Conservation and hospitality company, Wilderness, has initiated a process to transfer its holding company, Wilderness Holdings Limited, from Botswana to Mauritius. According to a Government Gazette notice dated December 4, 2023, the company plans to apply for the transfer on January 19.

Upon completion of the migration, Wilderness Holdings Limited will be removed from the register maintained by the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property Authority in Botswana, being incorporated under the laws of Mauritius.

Tarryn Gibson, Wilderness’s Head of Corporate Communications & PR, emphasised that the transfer would not impact Botswana operations. The move involves relocating the group’s head office to Mauritius as part of a restructuring process, with Wilderness Botswana remaining fully operational.

“One component of this restructure is the recently announced intention to migrate the holding company, Wilderness Holdings Limited, to Mauritius. More capital will be needed, possibly in the form of equity, and the location in Mauritius will pave the way with more ease. It is important to note that this change entails only Wilderness Holdings Limited. Wilderness Botswana’s operations will be completely unaffected: the company will remain registered in Botswana, and its operations will continue unchanged.”

Wilderness highlighted that Wilderness Botswana was the broader Wilderness group's core and most significant element. As a testament to the strength of Wilderness Botswana, the company plans to invest further in its current and future footprint in the country, focusing on both the business and its people.

The migration is expected to bring increased capital and more bed night sales, ultimately leading to a rise in visitors to the company’s operations in Botswana, benefiting the economy and the people of Botswana in the long term.

Wilderness recently celebrated 40 years of pioneering conservation tourism. It has been creating impactful journeys for four decades, with its beginnings in Botswana in 1983. Operating in eight countries, with more than 60 luxury camps and lodges, Wilderness helps protect 2.3 million hectares (6 million acres) of exclusive wilderness. Its goal is to double that by 2030.